CHAP. xvn. ANTIQUITIES OF BANFF. 353 



hand and delicacy of treatment which, had he been 

 younger, he would more readily have mastered. For, 

 by this time, Edward was growing old and stiff- 

 handed. Besides, there were other photographers in 

 the town, better provided with capital and machinery, 

 and it is scarcely to be wondered at if his trade in 

 photographic pictures should have been but small. 

 Yet some of his portraits, more particularly of himself 

 and his family, are exceedingly well done. 



In the meantime, however, the activity of his 

 mind and the closeness of his observation would not 

 allow him to remain at rest. He had done what he 

 could for science. But there were other things to be 

 thought over and written about. One of the subjects 

 that attracted him was Antiquities ; and he began with 

 the Antiquities of Banff. Several articles on the 

 subject appeared in the Banff shire Journal, which 

 were thus introduced by the editor : " We recently 

 mentioned that our townsman, Mr. Thomas Edward, 

 was engaged in preparing notes on the Antiquities 

 of the town and neighbourhood. We have pleasure 

 in giving the following extract from his MSS. The 

 extract, it will be seen, embodies two important prac- 

 tical suggestions one as to the obtaining and re-erect- 

 ing in the town the Old Cross of the Burgh ; and the 

 other as to the erection of a Drinking Fountain." 



What Edward said about the ancient cross of 

 Banff and the proposed drinking fountain may best 

 be given in his own words : 



2A 



